Arts

Dancenorth’s Artistic Capacity and Leadership Development Program was awarded a two-year grant towards ramping up the organisation’s fundraising capability and support the employment of the Dancenorth ensemble artists. Image: Amber Haines.

PROGRAM MANAGER Louise Joel

GRANTS 12

VALUE $1,652,000

The Arts grants awarded in FY22 fell into two categories: grants supporting innovative new programs; and grants supporting current partners to continue to deliver successful programs. These grants aimed to support arts organisations to develop resilience, re-engage with audiences and strengthen professional development programs.

Three highly successful leadership and mentoring programs received additional funding. Dancenorth Australia was awarded $240,000 over two years towards its Artistic Capacity and Leadership Development Program. Dancenorth had previously been funded by The Ian Potter Foundation to facilitate three years of professional development programs for the independent contemporary dance sector. This twoyear program extension allows Dancenorth to ramp up its fundraising capability and supports the employment of the Dancenorth ensemble artists.

Similarly, Guildhouse Incorporated received $66,000 over two years in renewed funding for its Catapult mentorship program. Catapult connects South Australian artists with mentors from across the country to develop skills, realise new projects and allow time to develop their practice. This capacity-building grant provides for an additional dedicated staff member who will provide regular touchpoints for mentors and mentees, helping structure the program and build peer connections.

Another recent and highly successful program run by the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) was also awarded $130,000 in renewed funding. ACMI’s pilot CEO Digital Mentoring Program delivered in partnership with The Australia Council for the Arts received a considerable level of interest, demonstrating the need to continue the program for a second iteration. This grant supports the program to scale up providing opportunities for Australian arts executives and decision-makers to develop digital mindsets.

Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra Pty Limited

Conductors practice with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.

Image: Caleb Miller.

Australian Conducting Academy – National Program Expansion

$230,000 OVER 3 YEARS

The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra (TSO) will expand the Australian Conducting Academy to a nationally networked professional training program in partnership with major symphony orchestras in each Australian state. This three-year grant supports TSO’s plan to expand their existing Academy program to provide national, high-quality training pathways in conducting.

Program participants will be given a breadth of experience across the partner orchestras over the 12-month training. In partnership with state orchestras, TSO is looking to ensure that conductors have transferable skills that are suitable across all music forms.

University of Western Australia: Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences

Good Arts, Good Mental Health: Campaign, Dose-Response Message, Programs and Professional Development

$300,000 OVER 3 YEARS

This multi-year grant will support the University of Western Australia (UWA) to build a cross-sector collaborative research initiative between the arts and health sectors. The project aims to provide professional development for arts and cultural organisations to assist them in developing and delivering artsled health-promoting experiences for all Australians.

There is now strong evidence supporting the mental health benefits of participating in recreational arts and culture (e.g., singing, painting, creative writing, concerts, art classes) for the general population and priority groups such as Indigenous Australians and older adults. The University of Western Australia will develop programs to effectively utilise the arts as an enjoyable, cost-effective, non-pharmacological method for improving Australians’ mental health and wellbeing.

The UWA research team will be guided by health promotion theory and practice. In consultation with partners in health policy, health promotion, the arts sector, and the wider community, the research team will create a co-designed, evidence-based, arts–mental health wellbeing campaign (dose-response message), professional development programs and demonstration projects.

Even though arts participation is high, Australians engage at levels insufficient to achieve mental wellbeing benefits (less than 20mins/day). The project will promote how arts can be incorporated into our daily lives, and provide opportunities for arts engagement via a series of demonstration projects that pair arts organisations and health agencies that test mental health–arts promotion messages.

Deakin University: Faculty of Business and Law

Changing Organisations to Diversify Arts Audience

$100,000

This grant aims to support Deakin University to research and develop resources that will assist arts and cultural institutions to develop their organisational practice to meet the needs of a broader cohort of Australians.

Deakin University hopes to leverage their confirmed research partnership with the Australia Council for the Arts to expand their focus and attention to several key areas of interest: geographic determinants of arts attendance and access (peri-urban, regional/remote); young people and their families; Culturally and Linguistically Diverse groups; First Nations and deaf/disabled audiences.